A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and labor unions Thursday against Michigan’s new right-to-work law drew an almost immediate response from Republicans and right-to-work backers.

Republicans and right-to-work supporters say they’ll dig in to protect the new law passed in December and which takes effect in late March.

Right-to-work means a person can’t be required to join a union or pay dues or fees as a condition of employment.

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Supporters prefer to call it “freedom to work.”

“The lawsuit filed by the ACLU and a group of union bosses, against the Legislature, is a desperate attack by union bosses against Michigan workers, who deserve the freedom and free will to choose whether they want to belong to a union,” Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak said via email.

“Michigan’s freedom-to-work legislation protects workers, ensures they have those fundamental rights, and puts the burden on unions to work within the law to obtain membership, rather than force Michigan families and workers to join against their will and desires,” said Schostak, predicting the legal challenge filed in Ingham County Circuit Court would be the first of many.

“This is likely the first of what will be a litany of frivolous lawsuits by union bosses, in their desperate attempt to hold onto power rather than provide better service to their members, and we remain committed to defending Michigan’s working families and Michigan’s Workplace Fairness and Equity Act,” Schostak said. “If necessary, the Michigan Republican Party is prepared to intervene and file briefs in support of the Michigan Legislature and on behalf of all Michigan workers.”

The Michigan Freedom Fund, a pro right-to-work group that pushed for the law’s passage in December, called the ACLU lawsuit an attempt by “union bosses and politicians bought and paid for with special interest dollars” to “line their own pockets by oppressing working class Michigan families.”

The group says General Motors and Ford Motor Company have announced expansion plans in Michigan since right-to-work was enacted.

General Motors’ most recent announcement this week was an expansion in Pontiac of its powertrain engineering facility.

The group also claims that a majority of Michigan voters support the right-to-work law, 51-41 percent, citing a poll by Mitchell Research.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has asked the Michigan Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of right-to-work.

Snyder signed right-to-work into law in December before the end of the legislative session amid protests by thousands outside the state Capitol.

Democrats vowed then that the fight over right-to-work wasn’t over, and state lawmakers have also introduced legislation to repeal it.

Contact Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649, charlie.crumm@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter @crummc and on Facebook. More information is at oaklandmichiganpolitics.blogspot.com.